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School funding is threadbare these days. Be thankful they are doing field trips at all.

Indeed. And, if I recall correctly, the OP's child is in kindergarten. By middle school, the cost of field trips will rise dramatically if your experience is anything like our own. One child went to Boston for 3 days, the other two went to Disney.

The PTA raises funds for things that benefit the teachers, or the student body as a whole, such as assemblies and field days. Class trip destination are usually chosen by the classroom teacher(s) and approved by the administration, paid for by the parents.

First it's a few hours to a local experience a few times a year (elementary). Then it's a week long trip to an outdoor environmental camp (middle school). Then it's Band trips to NYC (high school). Then History field trips to Washington, DC and elsewhere (high school). Then study abroad (high school/college).

Echoing the other posters - yes, it is the norm to pay for field trips. The cost of the bus obviously needs to be accounted for, as does the cost of admission if students are going somewhere with a fee.

If money is an issue for your family, speak with the teacher. Our PTA sets aside monies for students who cannot afford field trips, other schools have different funding options.

In elementary school we usually paid $5-$15 for the field trips. They were to places like the science museum, wildlife observatory, etc. Admission was cheaper than if we'd have gone as a family because the destinations generally offer a group discount rate. The trips got a little more expensive in middle school - they went to overnight camp for three days (think it was $80) in 6th grade and an overnight in Chicago at the end of 8th grade ($100). By the time they got to high school, field trips were a rarity but extracurricular trips were much more common, and expensive - ski club, band trip to Disney world, choir sang in NY, Spanish club to Spain, etc. But those were optional.

First it's a few hours to a local experience a few times a year (elementary). Then it's a week long trip to an outdoor environmental camp (middle school). Then it's Band trips to NYC (high school). Then History field trips to Washington, DC and elsewhere (high school). Then study abroad (high school/college).

Who else would pay for these things?

At some schools school near me, the schools get one grant per class per year so the students can go on a field trip. These are low income schools where >75% of the students receive free lunch.

Obviously at schools where ~$10 isn't a financial strain for the students' families, the parents pay.

Just got a notice from my school that there is a field trip coming up. Flyer tells us that information about cost will be distributed in the near future.

Cost?

We parents have to pay for the field trip? I thought that is what the PTSA fundraisers did. Or the community donated for. Or , or or. I didn't think they could charge parents for children to go on field trips?

(Age of my student is elementary school for reference.)

We have to pay for all field trips here, plus "in school field trips," for example, where the zoo brings animals to the school, or something. It would be nice if they were part of the school budget, but it never, ever occurred to me that the "community" would donate for such things.

When we pay online, there is always an option to select if your child is on free or reduced lunch, meaning you meet the income threshold for that. In that case, you don't have to pay for your child to go.

Just got a notice from my school that there is a field trip coming up. Flyer tells us that information about cost will be distributed in the near future.

Cost?

We parents have to pay for the field trip? I thought that is what the PTSA fundraisers did. Or the community donated for. Or , or or. I didn't think they could charge parents for children to go on field trips?

(Age of my student is elementary school for reference.)

Every school my 'kids' who are now in their late 30's went to and right down to my grandkids schools always charged for any kind of trip. Somebody has to pay for those buses.

Yep. We've paid for many a field trip. I'd be taken aback by not having to pay.

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